Pneumatic truck.



No. 860,622. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. A. R. BANNERMAN. W. SUMMERTON & D.MAODONALD.

PNEUMATIC TRUCK.

APYLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0. 860,622. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. A. R. BANNBRMAN, W. SUMMERTON & D.MACDONALD- PNBUMATIG TRUCK.

APPLICATION mum MAY 2. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER R. BANNERMAN, WILLIAM SUMMERTON, AND DONALD MACDONALD, OFWINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

rnnmirrc 'rnocx.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER R. BANNERMAN, WILLIAM SUMMERTON, andDONALD MACDONALD, sub- I jects of the King .of Great Britain, all of thecity of Winnipeg, in the county of Winnipeg, in the Province ofManitoba, Canada, have jointly invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic Trucks, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to improvements in trucks, more particularly thoseemploying fluid pressure for their operation, and the object of ourinvention is to pro vide an apparatus of the class described so thatheavy weights may be quickly and easily handled without damaging orinjuring same.

It is well known that in connection with the handling of heavy trunksand boxes and other heavy articles to and from freight cars, a greatdeal of damage is caused often because of the carelessness of thosehandling same.

Now another object of our invention is to reduce the number of breakagesof articles handled by railroads.

A still further object is to construct a simple but very strong anddurablev apparatus of the character before described, and a stillfurther object of our invention is to construct the truck as low aspossible, that is to say, as near the ground or platform as may bepossible in order to reduce to a minimum the distance that the weight tobe carried by the truck will have to belifted in order to be loadedthereon, and it consists essentially of a movable truck or base whichsupports a plurality of hollow pistons each held within a cylindersecured to or formed a part of a verticallymovable platform, and meansfor controlling the fluid to and from said pistons, in order to raiseand lower said movable platform.

The invention still further consists in providing an endless conveyer inconnection with the truck in order that the burden carried thereby maybe delivered to the side of said truck, as hereinafter more particularlyexplained.

Figure l is a perspective view of our preferred form of truck. Fig. 2 isa vertical cross-section on the line ab, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargedvertical section on the line 0-11, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 .is an enlargedvertical section on the line e Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a detailhereinafter referred to.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in each figure.

The truck or base is preferably constructed of three longitudinalsupports A"( wh ich are preferably made out of angle-iron) to which aresecured, after any suitable. maanner, and preferably by means of boltsB,

top and bottom plates 0 and D, and at both ends.

is also secured to said truck after any suitable manner.

We do not claim any particular way of attaching these casters or wheelsto the truck, as it is in the capacity of one skilled in the art towhich our invention appertains to provide a truck suitable for ourinvention having suitable casters or wheels in order to permit of itsmovement or transportation.

In order to steer the truck, the stem G of the front caster F extendsthrough the plates 0 and D and through the center longitudinal supportand above the plate 0 in order that the handle H may be attached theretoafter any suitable manner well known to one skilled in this art, inorder to turn said caster so as to guide the truck in the desireddirection. Supported at each corner of the truck or base after anysuitable construction, is a hollow piston-rod 1. According to theconstruction shown for supporting these piston-rods in place, we passsame down through the plates C and D and through the outsidelongitudinal supports A. The outside lower portion of the piston-rods isthreaded and operating on the threaded portion above the plates 0 is anut'J. Operating on the threaded end of'the piston-rods is a nut K whichscrews against the plate D. By means of the U-shaped block L (which fitsbetween the top of the side longitudinal supports A and the bottomplates D), .it will be understood that when the nuts I and K are screwedtightly against their respective plates there will be no danger of saidplates and said longitudinal supports buckling, by reason of the supportgiven by the U-shaped block L.

Surrounding the piston-rods I are any suitable cylinders M which aresecured after any suitable construction to the vertically-movableplatform N in such a manner as to give support thereto at or near theouter corners of same. According to the construction shown forsupporting the cylinders to said platform N, we show brackets Osubstantially Z-shaped, which are suitably secured as by rivets o to theplatform N at their lower portions. The upper portions of these bracketsare pierced so as to surround a portion of the lower end of thecylinders M and rigidly support same. Inclosing the end of thesecylinders are caps P which have reciprocating movement with saidcylinders. The upper ends of said cylinders are closed by suitable capsQ. In order to elevate the platform N motive fluid is passed into saidcylinders through the pistonrods I and their pierced heads 1' andthrough thepierced packing j secured to said heads '5 after'any suitablemanner. This fluid pressure will exert force against the tops of said,cylinders and. raise the platform the required height." According to theconstruction shown for passing a fluid, preferably air, to and from saidcylinders, we provide the piston-rods I with holes 2 in which l fits anipple 3 each of which receives a pipe 4 leading from a common coupling5 with which is connected,

after any suitable manner, the conduit 6 which conveys the motive fluidfrom any suitable source of sup plyto said coupling. And as saidcoupling is preferably centrally placed it will be understood that theamount of motive fluid passed into each of the said cylinders will beequal, thus uniformly raising up the platform N.

By means of any suitable three-way valve 7 coupled to the conduit 6, itwill be understood that the passage of the motive fluid to and from saidcylinders will be controlled. By means of the pipe 8 the motive fluid isfed into said three-way valve 7 and thence to the conduit 6. -In orderto exhaust the fluid out of said cylinders and thus lower or partiallylower the platform N, the three-way valve is turned so as to cut off thesupply of motive fluid through the pipe 8 and exhaust the motive fluidfrom the conduit 6 and the cylinders through the exhaust-port 9 formed apart of said threeway valve. We have not shown a construction of thisthree-way valve because its construction is well known by one skilled inthis art. illustrating the construction of this valve is the fact thatwe do not confine ourselves to using a valve of such nature, as anysuitable-controlling valve-may be used in connection with the passage ofthe motive fluid to and from the cylinders.

In order to prevent damaging of the truck by the passing into thecylinders of too much fluid, we provide a safety-valve construction asfollows: In the sides of the cylinders M are constructed holes n,preferably a short distance above the brackets O. In the lower ends ofsaid cylinders M and resting upon the caps P are springs b. When theplatform N raises up a certain height the holesn are moved above thepacking j, consequently permitting the escape of motive fluid from outthe cylinders, thus reducing the pressure and preventing the furtherelevation of the platform N. Should the motive fluid be turned suddenlyinto said cylinders so as to cause the platform N to be raised upquickly, we prevent the injurious impact between the cylinders M and thepiston-rods I by providing the springs b placed as before described,which will abut against the under side of the piston-head t and absorb aconsiderable portion of the energy within the motive fluid when theplatform N has been raised to a certain height, thus preventing theinjury to the parts before described.

The parts of our truck are preferably made of steel, particularly theplatform N, and consequently it will be understood that even very heavyweights can be readily moved along same. Now in order to reduce to aminimum the expenditure of energy necessary to move the Weight restingdirectly upon the platform N, we provide a suitable endless conveyer thepreferred form of construction of which we will now describe. Secureddown each side of the platform N and underneath the outer edge of sameis a longitudinal "support 10 secured by rivets 11 to said platform.This longitudinal support is preferably IT-shaped in cross-section. 12are rollers provided with spindles 13 which have bearing in the brackets14 secured in the side 15 of the longitudinal supports 10, By means ofthe pierced lugs 16, the brackets 14 are suitably supported. The

. inner ends of said brackets are threaded and receive A still furtherreason for not stood upon inspecting the drawings, that a roller 12 isprovided down each side of the truck. Passing over the rollers and abovethe platform as shown, is an endless belt 18 made of any suitablematerial, suchas heavy canvas or leather.

In order to prevent friction, on the side edges of the platform N, sameare cut away as shown at 19 and a roller 20 is journaled in proximitythereto by means of the bracket 21 secured to the top of thelongitudinal supports 10. In order to permit of the positioning of therollers 20 the outer corner of the longitudinal supports 10 are cut awayas shown at 22. Upon inspecting Figs. 2 and 4, particularly, it will beunderstood that the endless conveyer 18 does not come in contact withthe edge of the platform N. Secured in the rollers 12 are a plurality ofpins 23, the outer ends of which are preferably pointed as shown andproject a suitable distance beyond the periphery of said rollers inorder that they may engage in the metallic eyelets 24 secured in saidendless conveyer.

Upon inspecting Fig. 4 it will be understood that when the rollers areturned the endless conveyer 18 must essentially be moved by reason ofthe operation of the pins 23 in the metallic eyelets 24. These metalliceyelets are placed in position so that where two portions of theconveyer operate in opposite directions, there will be no unduefriction. In order to reduce the friction .of the endless conveyeragainst the platform N and also to facilitate the purchase between saidconveyer and the weight that may be supported thereon, we provide aplurality of longitudinally-placed slats 25 secured by rivets 26'- tosaid endless conveyer. By means of the metallic pieces 27 the rivets 26are securely held in the conveyer, and thus securely hold the slats inposition. These rollers 12 may be operated by any suitable means.According to the construction shown for this purpose, the spindles 13are extended and provided on their outer end withourselves to usingsame, no matter what its construction may be.

It will be obvious to one skilled in this art that changes may be madein the construction shown, and we do not confine ourselves to same andstate that we may make various changes or alterations therein withoutgoing outside of the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is: 1. An apparatus or the classdescribed, comprising a movable truck or base; hollow pistons securedthereto at or near each corner thereof; a vertically-movable platform;cylinders secured or attached to said platform and' designed to inclosesaid hollow pistons, and means for controlling fluid to and from saidpistons in order to raise and lower said movable platform.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured thereto at or near each corner thereof; avertically-movable platform; cylinders secured or attached to saidplatform and designed to inclose said hollow pistons; means forcontrolling fluid to and from said pistons in order to raise and lowersaid movable platform, and meanscarried by said platform andcoiiperating therewith so as to move a burden carried by said platformto one side thereof.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured thereto at or near each corner thereof; avertically-movable platform; cylinders secured or attached to 'saidplatform and designed to inclose said hollow pistons; means forcontrolling fluid to and from said pistons in order to raise and lowersaid movable platform; an endless conveyer carried by said platform, andmeans for operating same.

4. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured thereto at or near each corner thereof; avertically-movable platform; cylinders secured or attached to saidplatform and designed to inclose said hollow pistons; means forcontrolling fluid to and from.said pistons in order to raise and lowersaid movable platform; rollers journaled to said platform and down eachside' thereof; an endless conveyerpperating around said rollers andabove said platform, and means for operating said conveyer.

5. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured thereto at or near each corner thereof; avertically-movable platform; cylinders secured or attached to saidplatform and designed to inclose said hollow pistons; means forcontrolling fluid to and from said pistons in order to raise and lowersaid movable platform; rollers journaled to said platform and down eachside thereof; an endless conveyer operating around said rollers andabove said platform; antifriction rollers journaled to said platform andin proximity to each side thereof, over which said endless conveyerpasses, and means for operating said conveyer. I

6. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured thereto at or near each corner thereof; avertically-movable platform; cylinders secured or attached to saidplatform and designed to inclose said hollow pistons; means forcontrolling fluid to and from said pistons in order to raise and lowersaid movable platform; rollers journaled to said platform and down eachside thereof; an endless conveyer operating around said rollers andabove said platform; antifriction rollers journaled,to said platform andin proximity to each side thereof over which said endless conveyerpasses; a plurality of longitudinal slats or strips secured to saidconveyer, and means for operating said conveyer.

7. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase consisting of longitudinal metallic supports and upper and lowerplates secured at outer ends of same and crosswise thereto; hollowpistons secured to said truck or base by their lower threaded endsextending through said upper and lowerplates and the adjacentlongitudinal support; nuts'screwing on said threaded ends and againstsaid upper and lower plates; conduits or pipes for a motive fluidopening into said hollow pistons through an opening in their ends;cylinders secured or attached to said platform and designed to inclosesaid hollow pistons, and means for controlling fluid to and from pistonsin order to raise and lower said movable platform.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with amovable platform, of a roller journaled down each side of said platform;an endless conveyer passed thereover and operating on the upper side ofsaid platform; antifriction rollers journaled down each side of saidplatform and in proximity to the side edge thereof in order to keep saidendless conveyer from contact with the edges of said platform, and meansfor operating said conveyer.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with amovable platform, of a roller journaled down each side of said platform;an endless conveyer passed thereover and operating on the upper side ofsaid platform'; anti-friction rollers journaled down each side of saidplatform and in proximity to the side edge thereof in order to keep saidendless conveyer from contact with the edges of said platform; metalliceyelets secured in said endless conveyer; pins secured to said rollersand operating in said metallic eyelets in order to provide positivemeans for operating said conveyer, and means for operating said rollers.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with amovable platform, of a roller journaled down each side ofsaid platform;an endless conveyer passed thereover and operating on the upper side ofsaid platform; anti-friction rollers journaled down each side of saidplatform and in proximity to the side edge thereof in order to keep saidendless conveyer from contact with the edges of said platform; metalliceyelets secured in said endless conveyer; pins secured to said rollersand operating in said metallic eyelets in order to provide positivemeans for operating said conveyer; a plurality of longitudinal slats orstrips secured to said conveyer, and means for operating said rollers.

11. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a movable truck orbase; hollow pistons secured theretoat or near each corner thereof andprovided with flared heads; a vcrtically-movable platform; cylinderssecured or attached to said platform and designed to inclose said hollowpistons and provided with small holes in their lower portion;springswitliin said cylinders and resting in the bottom thereof andaround said hollowplstons 4 therein, and means for controlling motivefluid to and from said pistons in order to raise and lower said movableplatform.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER R. BANNERMAN. WILLIAM SUMMERTON. DONALD MACDONALD.

Witnesses:

Gno. F. Mormon, NORMAN MATHESON.

